El autocontrol en los adolescentes y su incidencia ante el consumo de sustancias.

Abstract

This research addresses the relationship between self-control and substance use in adolescents aged 15 to 18, seeking to understand how emotional regulation impacts on the prevention of addictive behaviors. The aim is to explore how self-control can be an effective tool to prevent the development of addictions in this population. A combined approach with a descriptive and correlational design was used, surveys with adolescents and interviews with specialists were applied to collect quantitative and qualitative information. With the data obtained, it was possible to analyze that 50% of adolescents were sometimes reluctant to succumb to the pressure to consume substances, while 23.1% of respondents never refused to accept an offer of consumption. In addition, it reports that 92.3% of adolescents who used substances claimed to have had a negative impact on their academic or work performance, which reinforces the idea that substance use reduces their productivity. As for social support, 38.8% of the participants expressed that talking to someone could have helped them stop using. It is concluded that self-control is a tool for the prevention of addictions, and it is recommended to implement educational and therapeutic programs that strengthen this ability in young people, both in the family and educational environment, to reduce the risk factors associated with substance use.